The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-07-09
THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA.
An Entertaining Account of Dr. Juniser'

An Entertaining Account of DIR. Junker's
Journcy-Incidcnts of tho Trip.
The natives Of the Uganda district he.
lieve in supreme being, but they do moi
worship Him, cons erng him so in.
finitely superior that the worship of in.
significant mortals would not be recog.
nized by Him; but they worship inferior
deites, especially the god of the lake,
and on voyage make libations to Him.
They have also god of war--in fact,
they have their Jupiter, Neptune. and
Mars Warrior chiefs, too, who have
died in battle arc worshiped as demi-
gods. This is very much like the IIomeric
mythology The government of Uganda
is based on the fcudal system. The chiefs
own land and fulfill the duties of magis-
trates; but there Is right Of appeal and
important cases come before chief or
chiefs Of the highest order. The kingdom
is really u limited monarchy; it is gov
erned by council consisting of the king
and some chiefs of the highest order, in
cluding tho chief butler, baker, and,
above all, the chef dc cuisine, the cook.
Without the sanction of these august
personages the king can do nothing.
When this parliament is dissolved-it sits
for three months--the members, like our
NJ. P.'s, retire to their country seats.
The king keeps IN enormous harem, and
polygany is an institution. Children and
girls are sold for guns, ammunition, etc
In the court there are dwarfs and
butfoons as there were at European
courts in the olden times.
Baker writes that needles are in great
demand-the natives being exceedingly
clever tailors and furriers-a handsome
girl may be purchased for thirteen
needles, to be exchanged in Unyoro for
an elephant t,lsk, which would be worth
eco or $50 in England. In Unyoro
there is an established value for healthy
young girl-such person Is equal to a
single elephants tusk of the first class or
o new shirt. Thus girl might be pur-
chased for n shirt, and subsequently OK
changed for large elephants tnsk.
Slavery is national institution of the
country. In Unyoro the girls are pur-
chased for various commodities. such as
brass coil, bracelets, bark, clothes, cot
ton, shirts, Ivory, etc. The Unyoro
country lies at the southeast bank of the
Albert Nyanzs.
DR.. JunlSer was allowed to proceed on
his journey III Il boat belonging to the
mission after he had made some hand
some presents to the king. This place is
ct the south of Victoria Nyanza. He re-
mained here four days. Toward the
southwest the banks lose the appearance
of fertility which they had on the north;
and rocky hills without verdure, or
merely covered with stunted mimosa or
coarse grass, run to the margin of the
lake, where they end in naked rocks In
the narrow bays formed by these ridges
are here and there villages nesting
among banana groves.
DIR. Junker now got to Ukumhi. Here
the hills recede again, and beds of am
batch are found growing in the water.
The natives construct boats from this
weed, which is so extremely buoyant that
a boat ten feet long and four feet wide
made of it will support at least twelve
men. The lowest point at which this
pithy weed is found is about latitude 12.
Other parts Of the coast arc often fringed
with waterlilies. and the islands Mt the
south of the lake are as beautiful as fairy
land. 1t is an everchanging kaleidoscope
at one spot purple convolvuli and tho
graceful papri abound, around which in
quantities of water fowl of
every description hover and swim; while
nere and there huge lippopotami are seen
tloundering, and crockodiles basking
where there happens 10 be sandbanks or
grassy creeks. In the middle distance are
seen plnntain groves and grassy plains Of
| vivid emerald, while in the background
stand gigantic trees with branches twisted
most Enthusiastically. From Uklimhi DIR.
Junker went on to Ut Salala, where
here is church mission station. Thence
he went with his porters and donkeys
o Uyui. Uyui may almost be called a
own. 1t is one of the largest col
ections of huts in Africa. Here and
here are places shaded by immense fig
rees, under which the natives sit. This
5 a prosperous station. 1t is ten miles
from Tabora, the great center
# Arab trade.
The doctor then continued his journey
,ver the Ugodo Country, through the
eubal pass to Mpwapwa. Mpwapwa
les on the western slopes of the Usagara
Mountains, adjoining the vast tract of
orcst which separates it from the table
and OF Uugodo. Clusters OF villages are
cattered all over the plains, their in
labitants supporting themselves on the
product of the soil and by breeding
,attle. The country is fertile, and pro-
!uces large crops of dhurra, Indian corn
md other cereals. The natives dwell in
mud huts, built square, with large
,ourt house in the center, into which Gas
$ common in the Soudan) the cattle are
lriven at night to prevent their being
Jumped" as the Cape expression runs;
he doors are strongly built of wood.
Tho inhabitants are a mixed race of
Wagogo and Wassagara and other tribes.
Toward the west stretches an immense
plain; to the north are fields of dhurra,
md to the south and east vast forests-a
paradise for n sportsman, as all kinds of
same-lions, leopards, antelopes and
Duifaloes rove there. In southerly
direction tower lofty mountains; indeed,
It were difficult to conceive a more
spot than that where our
.raveler rested.-Cairo Cor. London |
News.